Notts County Ladies
When Notts County Ladies started up at Meadow Lane in 2011, it was always Ray Trew's intention to make the side professional. Although that wasn't possible with the squad that played the first two seasons, the Notts boss just happened to have one he had made earlier - Lincoln Ladies, whom he had held onto since his days of owning The Imps. Controversially, in 2014, he moved the top management and players a little way along the Fosse and added it to the top of the existing NCL (who moved down a tier to become the Development Squad) and applied for membership of the newly-expanded WSL. To everyones immense satisfaction, they were accepted as part of the top division.Notts County suddenly had the basis of a very good side with the likes of Sophie Bradley (a local lass anyway) and Jess Clarke - both of whom were England internationals. Their presence, as well as professional status, also helped attract others and Ellen White, England's No.9 was soon added to the squad. Whilst the men fought to stay in their division, this new extension to the club already looked like they were going to be challenging for silverware !
With the prospect of playing in the top league (and against the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool), games in the summer and members of the England squad involved, Ray Trew had visions of growing the team to enter Europe and it was easy to see why. There women's football was more than a way of watching games out of season. There were big crowds and lots of interest.Initially the squad were due to have their own ground but plans didn't develop immediately and the first season was played on Meadow Lane.
Notts County Ladies Squad 2014
1..Carly Telford
2.Dunia Susi
3.Anna Green
4.Katie Hoyle
5.Sophie Bradley
7.Jess Clarke
9.Ellen White
11.Desiree Scott
12.Rachel Corsie
13.Juliana Draycott
14.Sophie Walton
15.Amy Turner
16.Katie Holtham
17.Rachel Unitt
18.Sophie Barker
19.Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
The first professional ladies team shirt has no branding, just as the men's kit doesn't so no 'Oldest Football League Club' on the bottom or '1862' and 'The Magpies' on each sleeve cuff should you need to differentiate between them and replicas. The 'Pinnacle' advertising logo on the front of the players shirts is probably a far more obvious giveaway.
The Kit
When all the new signings were pictured holding the purple away shirt, it soon became apparent that this way going to be the kit of choice. The reasoning behind this was simple. The WSL refs wore black and were not changing for anyone ! Notts were forced to set aside their traditional outfit therefore and restrict themselves to just the one colour for the first half of the season at least. After that, all the club's playing playing strip was up for its annual revision anyway. Only goalie Carly Telford wore her home, luminous yellow shirt ; the away one would have clashed.
For the collector of County kits, the Ladies squad had several differences to the mens. Although still sponsored by Pinnacle, the logo is displayed on the front with a pinkish triangle. Furthermore, on the back there is no Jonglers Comedy Club above the name near the collar with the back advert being another Pinnacle advert placed under each players numbers, similar to the men’s kit in 2008-2009. No replicas were available so these designs are match issue only with only one made up per player.
The first manager of the new-look Notts County Ladies was Rick Passmore, who worked with the squad at Lincoln and came over with them.
With the arrival of the Ladies came improved press attention including BT Sport who joined other agencies to take a look at the new kids on the block.
Notts new skipper was Sophie Bradley, ironically a local girl who did the rounds of Leeds and Lincoln before being able to play, finally, for her home town. An England international, she was the natural choice to lead on the pitch and a high profile, experienced signing for the new team.
